Well swab



Sept 10, 1935 F. A. THAHELD WELL swAB 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 28, 1935 llllllllllllll 1.

Sept. 10, 1935, F. A. THAHELD WELL SWAB Filed Aug. 28, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 10, 1935. F, THAHELD 2,013,903

WELL SWAB Filed Aug. 28, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 Patented Sept. 10, 1935 WELL swan For! A. Thaheld, Dallas, Tex., assignor to The Gulberson Corporation, Dallas, Tex., a corporation of Delaware Application August 28, 1933, Serial No. 687,144

9 Claims.

provements in well swabs.

One object of the invention is to provide a flexible swab body reinforced in an improved manner, whereby said body is supported against undue expansion, distortion and blowouts.

An important object of the invention is to provide a reinforcing bushing or liner arranged to permit a limited radial expansion of the body and at the same time affording a continuous metallic reinforcing support, which will prevent excessive expanding, distension or disrupting of the swab body. The advantage of such an arrangement is that the life of the swab body will i be prolonged and its expansion will be more uniform, thus assuring more eflicient swabbing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a reinforcing bushing or liner for a swab cup, which bushing or liner is not only continuous circumferentially, but extends substantially the entire length or height of the swab body, whereby longitudinal distortion or so-called compression of the body is prevented and also whereby the body is uniformly expanded and its outer surface is evenly engaged with the tubing or casing instead of being bowed or arched, as is usually the case.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a bushing or liner for a swab body having 30 a continuous corrugated portion capable of radial expansion, but acting to restrain undue expansion.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a swab constructed in accordance with the invention,

45 Figure 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a view partly in elevation and part- 50 ly in section of a modified form of the invention,

Figure 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of another modified form Of the invention,

This invention relates to new and useful im- Figure '7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view. taken on the line 'll of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 88-of Figure 6,

Figure 9 is a view partly in elevation and partly 5 in section of still another modified form of the invention,

Figure 10 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line Ill-l0 of Figure 9,

Figure 11 is a view partly in elevation and part- 10 ly in section showing another form of swab body, Figure 12 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line l2-I-2 of Figure 11,

Figure 13 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line Iii-43' of Figure 11, 15 Figure 14 is a view of still another form of swab body partly in section and partly in elevation,

Figure 15 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line |5-l5 of Figure 14, and 0 Figure 16 is a detail of the reinforcing bushing. In carrying out the invention, it may be applied to various forms of swab bodies, and in Figures 1 to 10, inclusive, of the drawings, I have shown the swab body in the form of a cup indi- 25 other suitable material capable of use for a swab 30 body. The invention is not to be limited to the particular shape of the body nor to the material of which it is composed.

The cup 10, as shown in Figures 1 to 10, inclusive, is provided at its lower portion with an 5 axial bore II, and above this bore with a counterbore or well l2. -The bore II is adapted to receive the support on which the cup is mounted, while the wall is spaced from the support for receiving the liquid or fluid which expands said 40 cup. Within the cup and extending longitudinally thereof is a metallic reinforcing cylindrical bushing or liner i 3, which is preferably formed of sheet metal or any other material suitable for the purpose and lending itself to ready shaping.

The bushing includes a sleeve or collar l4 and an offset apron or flange l5 united with the collar by an annular shoulder IS. The collar fits snugly within the bore II and has its lower end turned outwardly to form a lip I'I engaging around the lower end of said bore. The shoulder It extends outwardly from thetop of the collar and forms the bottom of the well l2.

The important feature of the invention is the formation of the apron l5. In Figures 1 to 5 inentire length of the sleeve.

clusive, the apron is shown as provided with vertical or upright corrugations or convolutions l8, while in Figures 6 to 10 inclusive, the apron is formed with circumferential or horizontal corrugations 18. The corrugations extend from the shoulder IE to the upper end of the apron, but this is not essential, as the corrugations may be placed and may have such extension as is found most advantageous.

In Figures 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8,.the apron 15 forms a liner and contacts with the upright surface of the well 12, while in Figures 4, 5, 9 and 10 the apron is embedded in the wall of the well to reinforce the same. In making the swab the cup is in all instances cast or molded upon the bushing and to assure adhesion the apron is provided with openings I9 for receiving the material of the body whereby the bushing is bonded thereto, as is shown in Figure 16.

Where the apron forms a liner, it is preferable to extend it to the extreme upper edge of the well I2, but where it is embedded in the wall it may be terminated just below the top edge, but this is optional. In all cases it is extended to approximately the top edge of the well so as to reinforce the wall thereof. It is pointed out that the apron is continuous and, therefore, can expand radially only so far as its corrugations will permit, and after undergoing such expansion it becomes a rigid, continuous support preventing further or undue expansion. One of the great troubles experienced in using swabs results from undue or over-expansion, whereby the body is cut, broken, disintegrated and often entirely blown out. The corrugated apron will prevent these difficulties and will increase the life of the swab.

The cup may be mounted in any suitable manner, but I have illustrated a suitable mounting in Figures 1, 6 and 9, wherein each cup I0 is shown with its lower tapered end 20 supported in a thimble 2| and its collar l4 snugly embracing a mandrel 22 passing therethrough. The lip I! of each bushing rests upon the bottom of the thimble and protects the lower end of the cup.

The shoulder l6 of the upper cut is shown in engagement with the overhanging shoulder 23 on the mandrel, while the shoulder l6 of the lower cup supports a spacer sleeve 24, which in turn supports the thimble 2! of the upper cup. The lower thimble 2| is supported by the valve case 25, which is screwed onto the lower end of the mandrel. The reinforcing bushings l3 prevent distortion of the cups when the mandrel is assembled.

The sleeve l0, shown in Figures 11 to 15 inelusive, is provided with a metal reinforcing bushing l3 having holes 19', similar to the holes 19.

bushing hasupright .corrugations 28 extendinglongitudinally thereof and preferably the In Figures 11, 12 andl3, the bushing is shown as a liner for the sleeve, while in Figures 14 and 15, it is embedded in the sleeve. By extending the bushing from end to end of the sleeve, the latter can not be compressed or distorted longitudinally, and a uniform radial expansion is assured.

While the sleeve may be mounted in any suitable manner, I have shown a practical mounting in Figures 11 and 14. Each end of the sleeve is beveled at 29 and these beveled portions are clamped between caps 30 secured on a mandrel 3|. The upper cap has perforations 32 for admitting fluid to the interior of the sleeve for expanding the same in the usual manner. The

bushing l3 prevents crushing of the sleeve when the caps are clamped in position.

, I am aware that reinforcing bushings have been previously used, but no one in so far as I am aware has ever used a continuous corrugated bushing, and particularly one extending to approximately the top of the swab body. It will be seen that unless the apron of the bushing or the bushing itself is continuous, the expansion would not be restrained and unless the bushing is corrugated, there could be no radial expansion. Where reinforcing fingers with portions of rubber therebetween are used, there is nothing to prevent undue radial expansion or blowing out of the swab body. 15

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent,.is:

l. A swab comprising, a flexible body having an axial opening extending therethrough, and a metallic reinforcing bushing secured permanent- 0 ly within the body coextensive with said opening and having longitudinal corrugations.

2. A swab comprising, a flexible cup body, and a reinforcing bushing molded in the cup and comprising a cylindrical collar and an annular cor- 25 rugated apron extending upwardly from the collar to substantially the top of the body.

3. A swab comprising, a flexible body having an axial opening extending therethrough, and a reinforcing member permanently secured in said 30 body around said opening and extending substantially the entire length of said body, said member being corrugated to permit radial expansion of said body and to limit such expansion to prevent throughout substantially the entire length of said 35 body blowing out thereof when said body is expanded.

4. A swab comprising, a flexible body having an axial opening extending therethrough, and a metallic reinforcing member permanently secured 40 in said body around said opening and extending substantially the entire length of said body, said member being corrugated to permit radial expansion of said body and to limit such expansion to prevent throughout substantially the entire 45 length of said body blowing out thereof when said body is expanded.

5. A swab comprising, a flexible body having an axial opening extending therethrough, and a reinforcing member permanently secured in said body around said opening and extending substantially the entire length of said body, said member having a portion which is corrugated to limit the expansion of said body and a portion which is not corrugated and which substantially defeats radial expansion of a portion of said body.

6. A swab comprising, a flexible body having an axial opening extendingtherethroughyand a metallic reinforcing member permanently setending substantially. the entire length of said body, said member being corrugated to permit radial expansion of said body and to limit such expansion to prevent throughout substantially the entire length of said body blowing out thereof 05 when said body is expanded, the corrugations being exposed in the axial opening of the body.

7. A swab comprising, a. flexible body having an axial opening extending therethrough, and a metallic reinforcing member permanently secured in said body around said opening and extending substantially the entire length of said body, said member being corrugated to permit radial expansion of said body and to limit such expansion to prevent throughout substantially the entire 5 length of said body blowing out thereof when said body is expanded, the corrugations of said member being embedded in the body. v

8. A swab comprising, a flexible body having an axial opening extending therethrough, and a metallic reinforcing member permanently secured in said body around said opening and extending substantially the entire length of said body, said member being corrugated to permit limited radial expansion of said body and to limit such expansion to prevent throughout substantially the entire length of said body blowing out thereof when said body is expanded, the corrugations of said member being annular.

9. A swab comprising, a flexible body having an axial opening extending therethrough, and a metallic reinforcing member permanently secured in said body around said opening and extending substantially the entire length of said body, said member being corrugated to permit radial expansion of said body and to limit such expansion to prevent throughout substantially the entire length of said body blowing out thereof when said body is expanded, the corrugations of said 10 member extending vertically thereof.

FERI A. 'I'I-IAHELD. 

